Austria,  Museums,  Palaces & Castles

Untersberg & Hellbrunn Palace – Part 2

Updated June 12th, 2019

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As I wrote in part one, Untersberg and Hellbrunn Palace are great places to visit in the same day from Salzburg, Austria. After our exciting morning climbing on the top of Untersberg mountain we took the number 25 bus half-way back in the direction we came to Hellbrunn Palace.

Trick Fountains

As the only way to see the trick fountains at Hellbrunn Palace is with a tour we used our Salzburg cards to obtain tickets to do the tour first. This was the part at the palace that I was most excited to see and I was not disappointed.

Hellbrunn Palace was the summer residence in the 1600s of Markus Sittikus, prince-archbishop of Salzburg at the time. In order to entertain his guests he had a garden created full of water surprises. Visitors are just as surprised now as they were years ago.

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As we were waiting for our tour to begin we couldn’t see the group ahead of us, but we could hear them shrieking. My mom started to look a tad frightened. Once our tour began I don’t think I retained any of the information presented. Most of the time during the tour my focus was not on what the guide was saying, but on trying to figure out where the water would come from next.

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The guide is the one responsible for activating the water to come out of different locations at just the right time. I think the guides take a lot of pleasure in trying to get everyone as wet as possible.

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This was a little show we got to watch that was all run by water. I correctly predicted that there would be a water surprise at the end!

As long as you are prepared to get wet it is a lot of fun. I even had my phone in a waterproof case and I was glad I did. How wet you get really depends on paying attention to the wet spots on the ground and chance. There are some places that you are expecting and dodging the water and think you made it past when another spray suddenly hits you. It’s especially fun to watch your tour mates get wet and scream in response!

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This one was a doozy to get through!

You will have to go for yourself to find out what ALL the water surprises are!

Folklore Museum

Next we headed to the folklore museum which sits high on a hill overlooking the palace grounds. 

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Folklore Museum in the distance

First to get to the museum we had to hike a steep back and forth path and then climb a long staircase. After hiking Untersberg mountain in the morning I was doubting my abilities. I felt much better about myself when I could easily and quickly climb the path here. Between my mom and I it was the reverse, with her having more difficulty on this walk.

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It gave me a chance to get ahead and have a few extra moments of enjoying the view.

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The museum exhibits the folk culture of Salzburg through furniture, costumes, and paintings.

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Back down the way we came.

Hellbrunn Palace

We walked back down the hill and went to the Palace. Included in the admission is an audio guide that gives information on each room that you are able to explore at leisure.

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In one room was a rotating sofa that was quite nice for a little sit down as we learned about the room.

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Parks & Gardens

To end our day we spent some time meandering through the gardens and parks surrounding the area. I am not sure which part is technically the gardens and which is the park. Regardless, the whole area is beautiful with the vivid green colors of nature against the bright yellow walls of the palace complex. It is a lovely location in the countryside of Salzburg.

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The many pathways draw a good deal of locals to the area to stay active.

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Salzburg Zoo

If you start bright and early and/or are speedy you could also fit in a free visit to the Salzburg zoo with your card on the same day. It is located close to Hellbrunn Palace.

Visiting Information

How to get there

Bus 25 to the Hellbrunn stop from several stops in the new or old part of Salzburg or from Untersberg.

If you want a longer scenic walk or bike ride you can bike/walk from Salzburg.

Recommendations

I would start as early as you are able to visit Untersberg (last post) in the morning and then do any or all of places at Hellbrunn palace.

If you are visiting Untersberg and Hellbrunn definitely buy the Salzburg card. The cost of just the bus rides and the Untersberg cable car is about the same amount as a 24 hour card.

It is not a long walk to the folklore museum, but I was still glad to have good walking shoes. For the trick fountains it is good to have clothes and belongings that dry easily.

If you are short on time and want to get all the activities in, check the timings. We did the palace visit after the folklore museum because it was open slightly later.

FYI

Free toilets in the palace complex, at the museum and in the park.

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